Types of soils found in India

Types of soils found in India

The soil, its composition and types:

The thin surface layer on the earth is called soil. Soil consists of mineral particles, decayed organic matter, living organisms, water and air. The formation of soil is mainly related to the type of rock they disintegrated from, surface relief, climate and natural vegetation. Soils of India are classified into five major types. They are alluvial soil, black soil, red soil, laterite soil, forest and mountain soil, arid and desert soil are the types of soil found in India.

1. The alluvial soil is the most fertile soil:

Alluvial soil is formed by the deposition of sediments brought down by the erosion works of the rivers and glaciers. Bhangar and Khadar are the two types of alluvial soil. The older and coarse alluvium is called Bhangar. The fine and new fertile alluvium is called the Khadar.

The alluvial soil is rich in potash, phosphoric acid and lime. The soil is deficient in nitrogen and humus. The soil is most commonly found in the Northern Great Plains, coastal plains of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, delta regions of the Cauvery and Mahanadi, deltaic regions of West Bengal. Alluvial soil is the most fertile soil and greatly favours the cultivation of paddy, sugarcane and jute.

2. The black soil is good for cotton cultivation:

Black soil is formed from the solidification of lava, a volcanic matter. The lava spread over to large areas during volcanic- activities of the earth almost thousands of years ago.

Black soil is rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash, lime and iron. The soil is deficient in phosphorous. The soil is clayey and impermeable, and has a great capacity to retain moisture for a long time. The soil is sticky in its wet form and develops cracks during dry summer season.

Black soil is found in the northern parts of Karnataka, southern Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and some places in Andhra Pradesh. Black soil is most suited for dry farming due to high moisture retention. Cotton is the most common crop grown on black soil. Sugarcane and maize also grow on black soil.

3. Red soil, the second best for crop cultivation:

Red soil has a wide diffusion (dispersal) of iron. For this reason the soil looks red. The soil is formed due to the disintegration of crystalline as well as metamorphic rocks. The soil is non retentive o moisture. Hence, the cultivation can be done with irrigation facilities. The soil is mos commonly found in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, south eastern Maharashtra eastern parts of Madhya Pradesh, many parts of Orissa and Chotanagpur regions.

Red soil is rich in iron content and ferromanganese compounds. The soil is deficient in phosphorous, nitrogen, lime and humus. Ragi, rice, paddy and tobacco are some ol the cash crops grown on this soil. All varieties of vegetables grow well on this soil.

4. The Laterite soil, as hard as rock:

Laterite soil is formed as a result of intense leaching process resulting in the removal of silica from laterite rocks. The soil is most commonly found in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and the hilly areas of Orissa and Assam. Laterite soil is acidic in nature. The soil is deficient in phosphoric acid, lime, potassium, magnesium and nitrogen.

5. Forest and mountain soil is good for plantation crops:

Forest and mountain soil is rich in humus and organic matter. The soil is found in the hilly regions such as the Western and Eastern Ghats, the Himachal and the Stwalik regions. Plantation crops such as tea, coffee and rubber grow well on these soils. Tea grows well on the hills of Assam and West Bengal. Coffee grows well on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.